Bosnia: Mostar Election Crisis Focus of Meeting in Zagreb

Zagreb, July 31 (RFE/RL) -- High-level talks to resolve continuing tensions in Mostar in southern Bosnia-Herzegovina are being held today in Zagreb, reports RFE/RL's South Slavic Broadcast Service

The talks will focus on Mostar, where Bosnian Croats are boycotting the newly-elected city council. The Bosnian Croats have refused to accept the results of last month's municipal elections, alleging irregularities. Muslim parties narrowly won the election.

Ejup Ganic, vice president of Bosnia's Muslim-Croat federation, told reporters he had come to the Croatian capital to demand "the abolition of Herceg-Bosna," the name for the mini-state set up by hardline Croats in Bosnia.

Ganic was accompanied by Michael Steiner, deputy to international mediator Carl Bildt, and John Menzies, U.S. ambassador to Bosnia,. They were welcomed by Croatian President Franjo Tudjman and other government leaders. The Croatian mayor of Mostar, Mijo Brajkovic, was also expected to attend today's meeting.

The European Union, which has administered Mostar for the past two years, is warning that it will withdraw its mission if the boycott continues.